Player-piano.



I. P. UAULFIELD.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 251909,

Patented June 20, 1911.

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floentou Winn/nu MK. 1 QFW9 J. P. GAULPIELD. PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27,1909.

Patehted Julie' 20, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J. AULPIBLD.

' PLAYER PIANO; APPLICATION FILE-D NOY. 27,1909.

Patented June 20, 1911.

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J. P. GAULFIELD PLAYR PIANO. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27,1909- Patented June 20, 1911.

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VII/011' J. P.1GAULFIELD. PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27,1909.-

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Patented M620, 1911.

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UNITED sTArEs PigpENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. CAULFIELD, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PLAYER-PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11110 20, 1911.

Application filed November 27, 1909. Serial No. 530,124..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. CAULFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Player-Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

r This invention relates to pneumatic player pianos in which the instruments are operated through the action of pneumatic pressures. The present invention however is more particularly designed for pianos of that class having horizontally disposed cases and known in the art as grand pianos, but features of the invention are also applicable to player pianos of the vertical or upright type.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the pneumatic mechanism including the valves and passages, that the same may readily be installed in the cases as at present constructed and without increasing the dimensions thereof.

Another object is to simplify the construc tion of the pneumatic mechanisms and to render them more readily accessible for regulation and adjustment while in their operative positions.

A further object is to provide improved means for regulating the capacity of the bleeds and to insure greater responsiveness in playing rapid passages of music.

Anotherobject is to provide an in'i n'oved construction of sectional tracker that may be readily moved from one position to another to enable the case to be closed tight within the ease lines.

With these and other objects in view, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whicl Figure l, is a side elevation of a grand piano to which my invention has been applied. Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same,---a portion of the cover having been broken away to illustrate the mechanism for driving the music roll. Fig. 3, is a vertical sectiona l view through the front portion of the piano and shows the relative positions of the tracker bar, conduit board, wrest plank; the cormcctions of the conduits running from tracker bar through conduit board and ot the same conduits in the key bottom at the under side of the diaphragms. Fig. 4-. is a perspective view of the two exhaust feeders or bellows and the equalizer communicating therewith and a sectional view of the air trunks connected therewith and also shows in a diagrammatic way the perforations ad.- jacent the key board for controlling the loud, soft and rewind mechanism. F ig. 5, is a diagrammatic sectional View of the same. Fig. (3, is a sectional plan view through the key bottom showing the passages that connect the primary and secondary valves and the passages connecting said. valves with the tracker; and also shows the lever mechanism for operating the valve in the tempo-box and the indicator. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the metal frame, the wrest plank, end conduit blocks and keybottom and shows the pneumatics for shifting the rewind mechanism to return the music sheet to the original roll,-the section being taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 10. Fig. 8, is an enlarged vertical section through the key-bottom and shows the adjustable bleed pin in the exhaust channel. Fig. 9, is an enlarged-sectional detail through the metal frame and wrest plank to show the tubular connections in the passages passing therethrough. Fig. 10, is a vertical crosssection through the conduit board, metal frame, wrest plank and key bottom to show the course of the passages leading from the conduit board to the key bottom,the section being taken on the line l010 of Fig. 7. Fig. 11, is a detail of the pneumatic motor for operating the music sheet, and Fig. 12, is an enlarged detail of the sectional tracker pivoted so as to fold within the case lines.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1, designates the horizontal case of a grand piano having suitable legs, 2, by which it is supported and which contains the usual and well known elements entering into the makeup of pianos of this character. In the present instance I provit e a key-bottom, 3, vertical conduit boards. 4, at opposite sides thereof which extend upwardly at each end of the kcy-frame, 5. and which have position beneath a horizontal wrest plank, (3, on which the usual metal frame. 7, is sustained. It will be understood that this metal frame, 7, carries the wires. 8, of the instrument and that the usual tuning pins, t, are employed for regulating the tension on the wires in the usual manner. The case is provided with the usual cover. 10. which folds down flat and which may be constructed of one or more parts as desired. Below the plane of the cover and between the latter and wrest the case to the other and is detachably connected-at each end to a vertical conduit block,

12, as clearly showii in Figs. 7 and 10 of... the drawings. These conduit blocks, 12, aresupported by and rest upon the upper surface of the metal frame, 7, and are directly over the vertical conduit. boards, 4, which extend from the keybottom, 3, up to the under side of the wrest plank, (3. Ducts or passages, 13, extend horizontally through the conduit board, 11, from its opposite ends toward the center at which point said board is provided with a longitudinal slot, 14-, as seen in Figs. 2 and 12. A horizontal plate, 15, extends over one side of the slot, 14:, and has a plurality of vertical ports, 16, therein from which tubes, 17, lead to and connect with the respective horizontal ducts or passages, 13, in the said conduit board'so that each port, 16, in said plate will be connected by a tube, 17, with one of the passages in the conduit board.

A tracker bar, 18, having a series of passages, 19, rests upon the plate, 15, during the operation of the instrun'ient and when in this position the said the ports lo', in the plate. In order to economizein space and permit the cover, 10, to lie flat on the case I have hinged the tracker bar, 18, to one side of said plate, 15, and have provided a suitable packing, 20, between them to make a tight joint. By means of this coi'istruction it will be seen that the tracker bar may be turned over on the hinges, 21, and thus lowered with respect to the cover-the bar in its lowered position being shown in Fig. 12. It will thus be'seen that the passages of the tracker are in com munication with the horizontal ducts, 13, in the conduit board which latter ducts extend in opposite directions from the tracker and communicate with vertical ducts or passages, 22, in the conduitblocks, 12, as best seen in Figs. 7, 9 and 10. In order to make a tight joint between the passages in the conduit blocks, 12, and similar registering passages in the vertical conduit board-s, 4, I provide short tubes, 23, which lead from the boards, 4, up through the wrest plank, 6, and through the metal frame, 7, into the blocks, 12, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawing. After entering the vertical conduit boards, 4, the passages or ducts, 22, extend dowmvardly therethrough in a plurality of groups, designated, 2i, 25, and 26, respectively, and illustrated in Fig. 10, and at their lower ends these groups of ducts or passages communicate with similar passages which extend horizontally through the key-bottom, 3, as seen in Figs. (3, 7, 8 and 10 and terminate in the respective diaphragm cups, 27, in the key bottom beneath passages will register with and the upper valve,

the primary valves as will presently be described.

The upper'side of the key-bottom, 3, is recessed on the lines designated, 28, so as to form parallel longitudinal chambers or air chests, 29. It has been found expedient to arrange these chests or chambers in the same stems that have position in the air chests,

29. Each air duct, 22, has a branch or exhaust passage, 33, which opens directly into one of the air chests and a regulating screw, 34, having a perforation, 35, passes down from the upper side of the key-bottom and crosses said exhaust passage so that by turning said screw the passage may be opened or closed more or less. The perforations, 35, in the regulating screws are sufliciently large to allow dust or particles of dirt that can pass through the passages of the tracker to be drawn on through the exhaust passages into the air chests. These exhaustfld ucts or passagesmay also be termed 'bleeds.

The plates or covers, 30, are provided with vertical passages, 36, in which a primary valve stem operates and eachstem carries two spaced-apart disks or valves, one above the other. The lower valve, 37, controls the lower end of the passage at the air-chest side 38, controls the upper end of the passage at the atmospheric side. The positions of these valves on the stem are such that a vertical movement of the stem Will cause one valve to seat and the other to uncover the end of the passage it guards. Normally the upper valve, 38, will be seated because of the constant suction or exhaust in the air chest. The lower end of each primary valve stem is seated on a diaphragm, 39, that extends over the cups, 27, and it. is into these cups and beneath the diaphragm that the tracker passages, 19, and ducts, 22, terminate, while there is'a constant suction from the air chests through the exhaust passages, 33, from said passages, 19, and, 22. It will therefore be seen that when the music sheet, 40, which travels over the tracker presents a pertoiation to one of the tracker passages, 19, the exhaust tension in the passages, 19, and, 22, will be replaced by atmospheric pressure, and by admitting a'tmosphere at the tracker end of the said passages the suction on the lower side of the primary diaphragm, 39, will be broken and the said primary valves and stem will rise because of the air tension in the chest and in rising will cause valve, 37, to close the lower end of passage, 36, and valve, 38, to uncover key-bottom where it again turns and extends in a horizontaldirection below the air-chestand communicates with a diaphragm cup, 42, below a diaphragm, 43, see Fig. 3. This diaphragm is at the lower end of a secondary valve stem, 44, which latter extends vertically through the air-chest, 29, and calries a circular or disk valve, 45, that has a slight vertical movement in a passage, 46, also inthe chest cover, 30. This secondary valve, 45, has vertical movement between two seats, 47, and, 48, respectively the former being at the lower end of the passage, 46, and affords the communication between said passage and the air-chest while the latter seat, 48, is at the upper side of the valve and affords the admission of atmosphere to the said passage. It will therefore be understood that when the primary valve rises so as to seat valve, 37, at the lower end of the passage, 86, the valve, 38,

'will rise and admit atmosphere into said passage and thus break the suction in passa'ge, 41, and'loeneath the diaphragm, 43, of the secondary whereupon said secondary valvestem, 44, will rise, because of the suc tion in the chest on the upper side of the diaphragm, and seat the valve, 45, up

. against seat, 48. When in this position the valve, 45, will bring passage, 49, into communication with the suction or air chest, 29, and as this passage leads to the striking bellows pneumatic 50 the suction in the chest will collapse the said bellows, 50 throw rod, 51, up at the rear end of the key, 52,- and thereby operate the latter. This upward movement of the rear end ofthe key actuates the action, 58, in the usual way and drives the hammer, 54, up against the string or wire, 8. to sound the note, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. What has been said of the particular primary, secondary and passages connecting therewith is true of all like parts throughout the instrument.

Referring again to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the key-bottom or bed is also provided with an air chamber, 55, which also extends horizontally therein between the upper and lowersurfaces and is parallel with and at the rear of the air-chests, 2'9, see also Fig. 6. This chamber is in communication with all of the air-chests, 29, through horizontal passages, 56, ascsn be seen in broken lines in Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 it will be noted that at the rear of the keybottom, 3, the instrument is provided with two independently-operated power bellows or feeders, 57, the forward ends of which each carry a bracket, 58, which is connected to one end of a bell-crank lever, 59, by a strap, 60. A. flexible band, 61, is connected to the other end of the bell-crank lever and extends forwardly therefrom and is attached.

to a treadle mechanism as will hereinafter be fully explained. At the rear of the two feeders, 57, I provide an equalizer, 62, by means of which the exhaust tension created by the feeders is equalized. Over one of the feeders I provide a horizontally-disposed air trunk, 63, the forward end of which is provided with a chamber or box, 64, which is connected by a tube, 65, with the airchamber, 55, in the key-bottom, and it is through this tube that a constant suction is maintained in said air chamber, 55, and the air-chests, 25), where the primary and secondary valves are located. This air-trunk, 63, is provided with a horizontalpartition 66, which forms therein two parallel horizontal chambers, 67, and, 68,-the former being below the latter and a vertical partition, 69, between the bottom of the air-trunk and partition, 66, forms another chamber, 70, at the forward end of the trunk into which the exhaust from the tube, 65, enters as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

66, in the air trunk is provided with ports, 71, and, 72, respectively which establish communication between the chambers, 68, and, 70, and at the rear end said partition, 66, is provided with a port, 73, that provides a communication between said upper chamber, 68 and the lower chamber, 67. This latter port, 73, is provided with a valve, 74, which when closed will shut off all comm unication between the air chamber, 55, and chests, 29, and the equalizer, 62, and therefore, at such time there will be no suction from the said air-chest or chan'lber, but when it'is open the suction will continue. The port, 72, is controlled by a valve, 75, which is secured upon a diaphragm, 76, that lies over a recess, 77, in the bottom of the trunk and a duct or passage, 78, leads from said recess beneath the diaphragm, to, and is controlled by a valve, 79, in a centrallylocated case, 80, shown in Fig. 4, which will presently be explained. The air trunk, 63, has position flat on top of the feeder, 57, and the equalizer, 62, and is provided with a plurality of ports, '81, through which the air in the chamber, 67, isexhausted by the feeder and additional ports, 82, that open into the equalizer. As there are two feeders,-one actuated by one foot of the operator and the other operated by the other foot, both feeders communicate with the equalizer so to maintain a uniform tension in the instrument. The ccntrally located case or chest, 80, is also flat on top of one of the feeders and extends over onto the equalizer and is also provided with ports, 83, that communicate with the feeder and other ports, 84, that place the case or chest in communication with the equalizer, thus it will be seen that both the trunk, 63, and the case .or chest, 80, are in communication with the but if said valve,

equalizer, and that it is at the forward end of the chest, 80, that the valve, 79, which controls the valve, 75, and the port, 72, in the air trunk, 63, is located. This'valve, 79, is carried on a stem the lower end of which is sustained by a diaphragm, 85, that extends over a recess in the bottom of the chest and from the under side of which a duct, 86, leads tothe key slip, 87, where it opens to the atmosphere through a soft tone port, 88, which normally admits atmosphere to the bottom side of the diaphragm and allows the latter to rise, because of the suction in the chest, 80. By reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that from the bottom sideof the diaphragm, 76, in trunk, 63, the passage or duct, '78, extends to and normally opens below the valve, 79, in the chest, 80, 79, is lowered, as it is when the soft tone port, 88, is covered by the finger, the end of the duct, 78, Will be exposed to the atmosphere and consequently the suction previously maintained through said duct, 78, will be broken and the diaphragm, 76, in trunk, 63, will raise valve, 75, which will cover the bottom side of port, 72, and thus shut off the larger of the two ports that establish communication between the air chests, 29, and the air trunk chamber, 68, and thereby reduce the exhaust in the air chests so as to operate the striking pneumatics with the decreased tension and produce a weak blow of the hammers on the strings. It will therefore be seen that instead of a soft pedal or lever mechanism to produce a soft tone the operator will. simply cover port, 88, to get the soft tone effect.

The sostenuto or sustained effect of the instrument is also produced through the closing of a port in the key slip by the finger of the operator and without the use of unsightly levers or pedals and by reference to Figs. 1, 3 and t of the drawings the mecha nism for producing this sustained effect will now be explained. By referring particulai'ly to Fig. 89, extend crosswise of and normally he upon or in contact wlth the string or w1re, 8.

. Suitable rods, 90, depend from the danu'iers and are pivotally connected at their lower ends with horizontal levers, 91, which latter are sustained in any suitable or well known manner. A horizontal cross-bar, 92, extends crosswise of the instrument and immediately below the levers, 9l, and the upper surface of this cross-bar has a cushion, 93, on which the free ends of said levers rest. At the raises the dampers,

3 it will be noted that dampers lower rear edge, the cross bar, 92, is connected by a hinge, 94, to a stationary or rigid bar, 95, so that said cross-bar may be tilted upward to a slight extent at its front edge. It is the raising or tilting of this cross bar that elevates the rods, 90, and consequently 89, above the strings and when thus raised the strings will be free to vibrate without the restriction of the damper and thereby produce the sustained effect. \Vhile the dampers and the devices above described for operating the same are common I have devised a novel pneumatic mechanism for operating the said elements to which reference will now be made in connection with said Figs. 1, 3 and 5. Beneath the keybottom, 3, andin the present instance at the rear of the striking pneumatics, I provide a box or case, 96, the under side of which carries av bellows, 97, and a lever, 98, has its forward end connected to the movable portion of said bellows and extends in substantially a horizontal direction below the same. The inner end of this lever is pivotally supported in any suitable manner so that the outer end thereof may rise and fall with the bellows. By reference to Figs. 8 and 5, an end and side View of the lever and bellows may be seen, and it will also be seen in said figures that a rod, 99, extends vertically over the lever and passes through a bushing, 100, in the chamber, 55, and its upper end has position directly below the cross-bar, 92. The lower-end of the rod, 99, rests upon the upper side of said lever, 98, so that when the bellows is collapsed, as will presently be explained,'the lever, 98, and rod, 99, will be raised and the upper end of said rod will tilt thecross-bar, 92, up thus raising the damper fromthe strings to produce the sustained effect when the hammers strike. By reference to the diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 5 it will be seen that the box or case, 96, is provided with an air-chamber, 101, and that a duct or tube,

102, connects the said chamber with the airexhau'st chamber, 55, so as to maintain a continuous suction in said chamber. Two valves, 103, and, 104-,- rcspectivcly, are provided in the said box or case, 90, and. each valve has a vertical stem. The stem of valve, 103, is connected to a diaphragm, 105, and a duct or pass'sage, 100, leads from the bottom side of said diapl agm and opens adjacent the valve, 104, where it communicates with the chamber, 101, as long as valve, 101;, is raised so that the suction in said chamber will act on the bottom side of diaphragm, 105, and keep valve, 103, down and permit atmosphere to enter 107, and pass into the bellows, 97', to keep the latter expanded. The stem of valve, 101, is also connected to diaphragm, 108, and a tube, 1.09, leads from the under side of this latter diaphragm and. opens through a sus- 7 another duct or passage,

tained tone port, 110, in the key slip, 87, so as to admit atmosphere to the under side of diaphragm, 108, and permit the latter and also the valve, .104, Y to be maintained in an elevated position as seen in said Fig. 5. \Vhen it is desired to produce a sustained tone eflect the bellows, 97, must be collapsed to actuate the damper rail and this is effected simply by placing the finger over the port, 110, which shuts off the entrance of atmosphere to the bottom side of diaphragm, 108, it being understood that the diaphragm has the ordinary well known bleed and the suction in the chamber, 101, together with the weight of valve, 104, and its stem, will cause said latter valve to drop and thereby uncover passage, 106, so atmosphere can enter therein, whereupon valve, 103, will rise, because there is no longer asuction on the bottom side of diaphragm, 105, and passage or duct, 107, will be thrown into communication with the suction chamber, 101, and consequently bellows, 97, will be collapsed and will remain so as long as the port, 110, in the key slip is covered. by the finger. The uncovering of said. port will immediately re.- store the valves to their original normal vposition and a return to the normal tone will immediately follow.

In the operation of the instrument the music sheet, 40, is carried on a roll, 111, see Fig. 3, and is run from said roll onto another roll, 112, during operation, as can be better seen in Fig. 2. The particular form of mechanism for sustaining the latter roll while the sheet is drawn over the tracker while playing the instrument, may vary as may also the motor mechanism, 113, for operating said mechanism, but in the pres ent instance the motor mechanism is of a well known formand operates a crank shaft, 114, which carries a sprocket wheel over which a sprocket chain, 115, travels. This chain also passes around another sprocket on a. longitudinally movable shaft. 116. that is sustained in a bracket. 117. carried at the rear side of the conduit board and a pinion, 113. on said shaft meshes with a gear, 119, on thc'roll shaft.120, on which the roll, 112, is mounted. Suitable hanger ln'ackets, 121, are carried on the front face or edge of the conduit board, 11, and one of said brackets carries a stem or rod, 122, which is yieldingly pressed toward the other by means of a spring coiled thereon, as seen in Fig. The other bracket carries a short shaft. 123, in which a sprocket whccl is mounted and a short sprocket chain, 124, travels over said wheel and also over a similar wheel on the shaft, ,116. By this means the two shafts, 116, and, 123fare driven in the same direction from the motor while the roll shaft. 120. is normally revolved in a reverse direction to cti'ect an unwinding of the music sheet from the roll, 111, that is supported between 112, to roll, 111, without sounding the respec-- tive notes during such return and at the same time effect the return through pneumatlcally operated means as- Will now be described reference being made particularly to' Figs. 2, 3, 1 and 5 of the drawings. In Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that a rod, 125, extends horizontally beneath the conduit board and is hung in suitable brackets, 126, so that it may be oscillated. The inner end of this rod extends upwardly and has a semi-circular support, 127, that engages a circular head, 128, on the outer'end of the shaft, 116, so that when said rod, 125, is rocked in one direction the said shaft will be moved longitudinally and the pinion, 118, withdrawn laterally from cngagen'lent w th the gear, 119, so as to cease driving the latter.. The forward end, 125), cf the rod, 125,

turns laterally and parallel with the front edge of the conduit board and it is with this end of the rod that a pneumatic device engages to rock the bar one way or another to cause the music sheet to travel, and these devices will now be described. A case or box, 130, is secured to the front side of the conduit board, 11, and over the wrest plank, 6, and by reference to Fig. 5, which shows a longitudinal section through this box, it will be seen that the same has a chamber, 131, and two pneumatic valves, 132, and, 133, re spectively extending vertically therein,-the same being carried on stems, the lower ends of which are attached to diaphragms, 134, and, 135. An air duct or passage, 136, extends from theundcr side of the diaphragm, 135, and comn'ulnieatcs with the suction chamber, 55, and by this means the suction on the under side of said diaphragm keeps the valve, 133, seated so as to normally ad mit atmosphere through a duct or passage, 137, to the under side of diaphragm, 1.3.4,

and also into a bellows, 138, thus permitting the said bellows to remain in an expanded condition. An air duct or tube, 139, also enters the ease or box, 130, and a suction is continuously maintained through said duct and from the chan'iber, 131, so as to hold the valve, 132, raised and expose a rewind bel lows, 140. to the exhaust in the chamber, 131,

through aduct. 14-]. so that as long as a suction is maintained in both the duct, 136, and chamber, 131, the rewind bellows, 140, will remain collapsed. By means of the constructions here employed a suction will always be maintained in the chamber, 135, through tube, 139, but during the rewinding operation there must be no suction or tension in the air chamber, 55, because it there were the return of the music sheet over the tracker would cause a reverse playing of the music which would be very objectionable. therefore as chamber, 55, is exhausted through tube or duct, 65, and chamber, 68, I have devised a construction whereby the valve, 74, will seat and remain seated during the rewinding operation and thus prevent any suction whatever in said chamber, 68, although the feeders, equalizer and motor continue to operate. Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that valve. 74, is carried by a stem the lower end of which is connected to a diaphragm, 142, from the under side of which a. duct or passage. 143. extends. and that said duct enters and extends along the bottom .of the centrally-located case. 80. and terminates in a vertical passage, 144, insaid case. This passage, 144, extends from the interiorof the caseto the atmosphere on the exterior and a valve stem extends through the passage and carries two valves. 145. and, 14G.one above the other. The valve, 146, controls the outer atmospheric end of the passage and the. valve, 145, the inner end thereof and the duct. 143. enters the said passage between the said two valves so that when valve, 146. uncovers the passage, atmosphere can pass through duct, 143. and beneath the diaphragm, 142. The lower end of the stem that carries valves. 14-" and, 146. is connected to a diaphragm. 147. which covers a recess. 14S.

and av duct. 149. communicates with said rec ss beneath the diaphragm and extends to the key slip. 87. where it opens through a rewind port..150, to the atmosphere.

' From the foregoing explanation it will be. seen that normally atmosphere enters through the rewind port. 150. to the under side of diaphragm. 147: that the exhaust tension in the interior of case. 80. litts said diaphragm and seats valve. 14!". against the lower end of passage. 144: that atmosphere enters the upper end'ot pas age. 144. and passes through duct. 143. to the lower side of diaphragm, 142. and consequently valve, 74. remains normally elevated. But suppose rewind port, 150; is covered by the finger of the operator. and thus cuts oft the atmosphere to the bottom side of diaphragm. 147: the usual bleed in the diaphragm will cause the tension in the case. 80, to deflate the diaphragm which will draw the valves, 145, and. 146. down thereby seating valve. 141), and throwing duet. 143. into comnnlnicati-m with the exhaust tension in case. 80, whereupon said tension will immediately act on diaphragm, 142, and draw valve, 74, down By again referring to and secondary valves will remain inactive S0 that the travel of the music sheet over the tracker can be reversed without sound ing a note. The cutting oil of atmosphere from entrance to rewind port, 150, and shutting off the exhaust in chamber, 55, will cause the bellows, 138, to collapse and the rewind bellows, 140, to expand and thus shift or rock rod, 125, to throw the pinion, 118, out of mesh with gear, 119, and shift the gearing then to drive shaft, 123, to etl ect 30 a rewinding of the music sheet. The bellows, 138, and the rewind bellows, 140, are each provided with a bracket, 151, and each bracket has a vertical end, 152, which projects toward the end of the other bracket but leaving sutlicient space between to receive the end, 129, of the rock rod, 125, so that when one bellows collapses and the other expands the rock bar will be moved toward the expanded bellows to efiect a shifting of the shaft, 116.

By reference to Figs. 2,4 and 5 it will be seen that a conduit box or case, 153, extends horizontally between the feeders, 57, and the equalizer, (S2. and that the same is provided with a chamber,-154, that is in communication with. the trunk, 63, by means of ports, 155, and with the central case, 80, by means of ports, 156, so that the exhaust maintained by the feeders and equalizer is also etfective vin the conduit chamber, 154. and it is through this conduit that the exhaust to operate the motor is conveyed. At one end of this conduit box or case, 153, I locate an exhaust box, 157, having a chamber, 158, which also extends over one of the feeders, 57, but has no direct communication therewith. There is however a port, 15%), in the bottom and at the rear end of the said box which provides a constant communication with the conduit chamber, 154, and through the latter said chamber is exhausted by the feeders. At the front end of the exhaust box I provide an expansible receptacle, 160, which in the present instance has the form of a bellows and communication is established between the said receptacle andthe exhaust-box chamber, 158, by a port, 161. deneath the expa'nsible receptacle and the front end of the exhaust box I provide a tempo box. 162. whose function, as its name implies. is to regulate the time or the speed at which the motor is to be operated. This box has a horizontal partition, 163,.which serves to form a lower horizontal channel or char 1l)(l. 164. and an u) er channel 'or l l P wall of the box and which is connected to a horizontal rod, 165), thst extends over the 'key-bottom or bed, as clearly shown in Fig.

6 0f the drawing. At one end the channel,

160, carries a bracket, 171, at its hinged end and a spring, 172, is stretched between said bracket and a stationary bracket. 173. at the bottom of the tempo box. whereby the tension of the spring will serve to keep the receptacle or bellows yicldingly expanded but permit it to rise and fall if the exhaust tension in chamber, 158. should vary. A tube. 174, enters a port, 175, in. the upper side of the tempo box and extends from the chamber, 165, thereof to the motor mechanisn'i, 113, so that the air in the latter will he exhansted througlrsaid tube; across channel. 165, of the tempo box: through port. 166. and channel, 164. then by way of vertical passagc,170. to the cxpansible receptacle or bellows, 160, then through port. 161. to chamber, 158, of exhaust box and finally throughport. 155), to conduit box or case and thence to feeders. Tn the normal operation. of the instrument the slide valve. 167. in the tempo box will partly close the port. 166, but if it is desired to increase the time or speed either momentarily or for a greater period. the operator will shift the lever. 169,-the handle-end of which projects in front of the key slip. 87. see Figs. 2 and 6. and will move said slide valve. so as to further uncover the said port. 166. whereupon the exhaust tension will be incrcascd and the motorthus operated faster. ()n the other hand, a gradual closing of the slide valve over said port will reduce thcspccd of the motor and likewise the speed of the music sheet over the tracker. In connection with this tempo control. I have provided an ocular time indicator by means of which the slide valve in the tempo box may be accurately placed with respect to the port it controls and by reference to Figs. 2 and 6 the same will be briefly described. The horizontal rod, 169, that operates the tempo slide valve is pivoted at, 176, between its end to the key-bottom and a bar, 177. has one end pivoted to said rod and extends horizontally therefrom and its other end pivotally cngagcs an arm. 176. that is carried on a ver tical rock shaft. 179. 'lhis rock shaft ex tends Wrtically from the key-bottom and seen on Fig. 2. An indicator hand, 181, is pivoted adjacent to the metal frame and in the present instance in front of the tracker,

and a rod, 182, connects said hand with the arm, 180, on the rock shaft; It will thus be seen that as the rod. 169, is moved to shift,

the slide valve, 167, the bar, 177, rock-shaft, 179, rod, 182, and hand, 181, will all shift correspondingly and thus by watching the hand the position of the slide valve may be. determined. y

During the rewinding of the music sheet to return it from roll, 112. to roll, 111, from which it was unwound while playing it is desirable that the rewinding be quickly ac complished, and that the striking pneumat- 1cs. 50: the prlmary valves, 38; and second ary valve, 45, also be held against operation.

vThe latter feature has been explained in connection with the valve, 73, diaphragm, H2, duct. 1-t3, and valves, 144. and, 145, which during the rewinding effect a closure of port. 74, by the seating of valve, 73 and thereby prevent further-exhaust from that point to the air chests, 29. This additional exhaust tension that would otherwise be distributed through all the air chests, 29, and, 55, can be utilized in rapidly driving the motor mechanism and to aid in thus speeding up the motor while rcwinding, I

187. on its upper side. In order to permit this disk valve and the diaphragm that carrics it to be raised by the suction on the upper side I provide a duct, 1R8, thatleads from the recess. 165, and enters the wall of the case or chest, 80, and opens in the vertical passage, 1-14, between the valves, 145, and. 146. which passage, as hcreinbefore explained is open to the atmosphere as long as the rewind port, 150, at the key slip is uncovered. \Vhen port, 150, is covered for rewind as above explained valve. H6, will exclude atmosphere from duct. 189. and valve, 145, will drop and thus the suction in chest, 80, will draw valve,1S7, and diaphragm, 186, down so as to uncover the tuhular valve seat. 184-. The uncovering of this seat, 184, will increase the suction in chamber. 165, of the tempo box which has direct communication through tube, 174. to the inotor mechanism and as at this time the entire suction of the feeders is through chahiber. 158. by way of conduit. 154 the motor mechanism will be operated very rapidly to rewind the music sheet. At this that the roll driving chains will rewind the sheet of music.

The treadle mechanism comprises a seat or bench, 189, having a pivoted frame, 190, I

which extends forwardly therefrom and which rests upon the floor and the treadles, 191, are pivoted to the frame and incline upwardly therefrom. A link, 192, is carried or connected to the end of the flexible belt or strap, 61, and said link engages the forward end of the pedals whereby tosupport said end in an inclined position. By disconnecting the links from the pedals the latter may be folded together with the frame, 190, and turned back beneath the seat or bench.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the conduit board 11 extends horizontally over the wrest plank and above the tuning pins, and that it carries the tracker bar, music rolls and immediate mechanism for reversing the motion of the rolls. As this conduit board is detachably secured to end blocks or equivalent supports having vertical passages that register with the passages in the said board, it may readily be lifted out together with the devices it carries to permit access to the tunin pins and as readily replaced, thus avoidlug the necessity of dismantling or separately removing all those parts.

Another very desirable feature is the arrangement in the key-bottom of air chests and valves in parallel rows in different vertical planes but. all in the same horizontal plane because. this permits immediate access to all of those valves, or any one of them without the necessity of dismantling or the removal of numerous parts.

It is to lac understood that the horizontal and sidc-by-sidc arrangement of air chests and thclocation of the. valves in the keybottoui is just as applicable to uprightas to pianos ot' the grand type.

Having thus described my invention what I claizn and desire to secure by Letters, latcut is,

l. ln a grand player piano the combination with tho horizontally disposed case. ol

" a horizontal key-bottom having a plurality of ducts and air-chests therein; striking rmemnatics; valves also in the key-lmttom for controlling the operation oi the striking pneumatics; a tracker bar having a pluralily o't'ports: a hpnizontal conduit board be" tween the tracker and the key-bottom said board having a plurality of horizontal ducts therein between its upper and lower surfaces that communicate with the tracker ports,

and means at opposite ends ofthe horizontal conduit board and the ducts therein and extending downwardly to the horizontal keybottom for establishing communication between the ducts in said board and the ducts in said key-bottom.

2. In a grand player piano the combination with the horizontally disposed case, of a horizontal key-bottom having ducts and air chests therein; striking pneumatics; valves also in the key-bottom for controlling the striking pneumatics; a perforated tracker bar; a horizontal conduit board having ducts extending horizontally therein that communicate 'With the tracker perforations and conduit boards extending upwardly from opposite sides of the key-bottom,said latter boards also having ducts that communicate with the ducts in the key-bottom and also communicate with the ducts in the horizontal conduit board.

3. In a grand player piano the combination with the horizontally disposed case, of a horizontal key-bottom having ducts and air-chests therein; striking neumatics; valves also in the keybottom for controlling the striking pneumatics; a perforated tracker bar: a horizontal conduit board beneath the tracker and having a plurality of ducts formed therein and extending therethrough from its opposite ends toward the tracker and connected with the perforations of the latter: a wrest plank between; the key bottom and the conduit board and vertical conduit boards extending upwardly from the key -bottom and sustaining the wrest plank.sa'id vertical boards having ducts that connect the ducts of the horizontal conduitboard above the wrest plank with the ducts in the key-bottom below the wrest 'ilank. I 4-. In a player piano the combination with the key-bottom having a horizontal air chest therein, of a removable cover on the upper side of the said chest; a plurality of valves sustained by said cover and accessible from the upper side of the key-bottom and striking pneumatics controlled by said valves.

ln a player piano the combination with the key-bottom having a horizontal airchest and a. plurality of air ducts therein, of a removable cover at the upper side of said air chest and havingrows of ports therein and also ha viug duets extending laterally in the cover from said ports which communicate with the air ducts in the key bottom; valves in the. ports of said cover and accessible from the upper side of the key bottom, and striking pncumatics controlled by said valves. 1 I 6. l n a player piano the combination with the key-bottom having a plurality of horizontal air chests arranged side-by-side in ditlerent vertical planes and also having a plurality of horizontal ducts'between the lower surface of the bottom and said air chests; of a removable cover over said air chests and having a plurality of ports therein; valves in the key-bottom chests for coir trolling said ports in the cover, and striking pneumatics also controlled by said valves.

7. In a player piano the combination with the horizontal. case, of a tracker; a horizontal key-bottom; air chests in said key-bottom; valves in said chests and exposed at theupper side of the key-bottom; .ducts leading from the tracker downwardly and then horizontally through the key-bottom and adjacent the chest valves; bleed ducts branchingfrom the tracker ducts and opening into the chests in the key-bottom; ad justing stemsextending across said bleed ducts and exposed at the upper side of the key-bottom for regulation; striking pneumatics; sounding devices and means operating between said striking pneumatics and sounding devices.

8. in a player piano the combination with the key action, of a plurality of air chests side-by-si'de and in the same horizontal plane but below the key-action; valves in said chests; a tracker bar above the key action and connections between the tracker above the action and the air-chests below the action.

9. In a player piano the combination with the key action, of a plurality of air chests in the same horizontal plane and side-by-side and below the key action; valves in said chests; a tracker bar; striking pneumatics; sounding devices; means operating between the striking pneumatics and at the rear end of the key action for operating the sounding devices and connections between the tracker bar above the action. and the chests below the key action.

10. In a player piano the combination with the key action of a plurality of air chests arranged side-by-side in a single horizontal plane and below the key action,- said chests containing a plurality of hori' zontal passages; valves in said chests above the passages therein, a tracker bar above the action and connections between the said bar above the action and the passages in the chests belowthe action.

11. In a player piano the combination with the key-action, of a plurality of paralwith the key-action, of a plurality pf air chests; valves in said chests; a conduit board above the action and having a plurality of passages therein,-said board and its passages being detachably secured; a tracker bar; connections between the tracker bar and the passages in the detachable conduit board and connections between the conduit board and the chests.

13. In a player piano the combination with the keys, of a plurality of parallel air chests in different vertical planes and said chests being arranged in a single horizontal plane; valves in each of said chests and also arranged in different vertical planes but in the same horizontal plane; striking pneumatics beneath the inner ends of the keys; at channeled board beneath the chests and having channels that connect the chests with the striking pneumatics; sounding devices; and means coacting between the inner ends of the keys and the striking pneumatics whereby to raise the said inner key-ends and operate the sounding devices.

14. In a player piano the combination with the key action, of a plurality of air chests below the said action; valves in said chests; a horizontal board over the key action and supported at its opposite ends,

said board having a plurality of passages extendinghorizontally therein between its upper and lower surfaces; a tracker carried by said board and having passages that communicate with the passages in the board and means at opposite ends of the board for establishing communication be-' tween the passages therein and the valves below the action.

15. In a player piano the combination with the key action, of air chests below the action; valves in said chests; a horizontal conduit board above the key action and hav ing passages extending horizontally toward opposite ends thereof and communicating with short lateral passages adjacent the end of the board which open at the bottom side of the board; means connecting the short lateral passages at the end of the board with the valves below the action; a tracker above the board; connections between the tracker and board passages and means for securing the board in place to hold the passage 0penings in register with the means that 0011- nects said passages with the valves below the action.

16. In a player piano the combination with a key-bottom having a continuous flat and lower surfaces thereof for controlling the striking neumatics.

17. In a player piano the combination with the key action, ofa key bottom below the action and having a plurality of air chests therein, said chests being side-by-side and. in the same horizontal plane,valves in said key-bottom chests; a tracker, and

connections between the tracker and the said side-by-side horizontal air chests in the key 10 bottom.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES P. CAULF-IELD.

Vvitnesses G. FERDINAND'VOGT, CHARLES B. MANN, Jr. 

